[DigitalToday intern reporter Yoo Seung-a] Airbnb is tightening its rules to prevent hosts from requiring guests to do time-consuming checkout tasks such as washing dishes or taking out trash.

Airbnb and multiple foreign media outlets said on Oct. 21 that the new accommodation rules will apply to bookings made after Nov. 20.

The key change is to stop hosts from adding excessive pre-checkout tasks to house rules. Under the new policy, hosts cannot require tasks that take significant time or effort or are typically performed by cleaning staff. Washing dishes and taking out trash are among the representative prohibited items.

Airbnb also changed how rules are displayed on listing pages. It is creating a “Rules and requests” section to make host requirements easier to check. If a host continues to leave housekeeping requirements on a listing after the policy takes effect, a warning reading “includes cleaning requests” may be shown to guests. It also will not allow hosts to add separate rules through messages to guests or in-home notices.

It is also limiting hosts from adding separate rules outside the listing page. Airbnb said it will not allow hosts to quietly pass on additional rules via messages or in-home notices. The step aims to reduce cases in which rules confirmed before booking differ from those applied during the stay.

Some hosts pushed back against the new rules on an Airbnb forum. They argued that limits related to cleaning could cause problems for hygiene and health, and that guests can choose not to book properties with overly strict rules.

Not all checkout task requests are banned. Airbnb said it may allow exceptions that take into account local environmental and safety conditions. For example, in areas where bears appear, hosts may ask guests to dispose of waste in animal-proof trash bins.

The move aims to clarify checkout rules that varied by listing and reduce the burden on guests. Some listings have charged cleaning fees while also requiring separate tasks such as washing dishes or taking out trash, prompting user complaints. Under the new policy, hosts must clearly communicate permitted rules at the booking stage, and situations in which guests are asked to do additional tasks just before checkout are expected to decrease.